Variable width footwear

ABSTRACT

An adjustable width shoe system includes an upper, a sock liner adhesively attached to an insole, the insole attached to the upper and a removable footbed configured to be inserted into an interior volume of the upper and over a foot support surface of the sock liner. The removable footbed has a second periphery substantially commensurate with the first periphery of the sock liner and a second foot support surface smaller than the first support surface of the sock liner. The sock liner and upper together define an interior volume for receiving a wearer&#39;s foot.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] This invention relates to footwear such as boots and shoes, and more particularly to varying the width of a shoe.

BACKGROUND

[0002] The invention relates to footwear, such as shoes or boots.

[0003] Shoe sizing systems are a fairly recent innovation. In centuries past, people acquired shoes in one of several ways: 1) custom-made by a shoemaker if you could afford it; 2) the individual made their own shoes for themselves or their family; or 3) people acquired the shoes second-hand from a more affluent individual, or people handed-down the shoes within the family.

[0004] The homemade method was relatively simple. The shoe wearer would place their foot on a slab of leather where the shoemaker would cut a sole from it. Then the shoemaker would lay a piece of leather or cloth over the top of the foot, cut the piece to fit, then nail or tack it to the sole. By repeated experience some women learned to make some quite elegant cloth shoes by this simple method. Yet, nobody thought in terms of sizes or widths, because of the simplicity of the form-fitting process.

[0005] As the profession developed, the shoemaker followed substantially the same basic method except for enhanced skill and sophistication. The shoemaker started with a foot tracing (sometimes even a foot imprint in clay). Yet, the measurement of the foot “mass” was also important. The shoemaker measured the foot “mass” by using the “hand span” method by determining the girth at the ball, instep and elsewhere with various spans of his hand that he “translated” into a last. He probably also used a crude kind of size stick for other measurements. But again, no sizes existed, only measurements. And each shoemaker had his own individual way of measuring, which he jealously guarded and which, of course, precluded any possibility of a general shoe measuring or sizing system applicable to all.

[0006] Edwin S. Simpson of New York first proposed and introduced in 1880 the width of a shoe when he prepared the first standardized last measurement chart. Until that time no system of widths existed—and, in fact, shoemakers rarely made shoes on widths at all. Seven years passed before the Retail Boot & Shoe Dealers' National Association adopted the system nationally in 1887.

[0007] Yet, even with that national official sanction it still took many additional years before manufacturers and retailers incorporated shoe widths in their inventories. In the early 1900s, a substantial share of shoes continued to be made and sold on only one width. Not until the early 1920s did manufacturers and retailers begin carrying a full range of widths. Thus, shoe widths are actually little more than a half-century-old. Some American-made shoes are made with many different widths. No country in the world comes close to the United States in width selection. Indeed, most of the world's shoes are made with only one width.

[0008] The advantage of a standardize last system is that a men's shoe in a size 9D, for example, will always have the same width (circumference) on any shape last. When considering toe shape, a last with a pointed toe will be longer than the last of the same size and width having a square toe. The pointed toe area of the shoe will have unused space to allow comfortable placement of the foot within the shoe

SUMMARY

[0009] The invention relates to a footwear construction and method for allowing a user to adjust the width of the shoe, thereby providing an improved fit and increased comfort.

[0010] In a general aspect of the invention, an adjustable width shoe system includes an upper, a sock liner adhesively attached to an insole, the insole attached to the upper, and a removable footbed configured to be inserted into an interior volume of the upper and over a foot support surface of the sock liner. The removable footbed has a second periphery substantially commensurate with the first periphery of the sock liner and a second foot support surface smaller than the first support surface of the sock liner. The sock liner and upper together define an interior volume for receiving a wearer's foot.

[0011] Among other advantages, a user can use the adjustable width system to improve the fit with respect to the width of the shoe. Adjustment can be accomplished in several ways. First, a wearer may desire a smaller shoe width and may insert the removable footbed to decrease the width. In this case the removable footbed is maintained within the shoe during use. Alternatively, the removable footbed can be periodically inserted and removed depending on the condition of the wearer's foot. For example, the adjustable width system allows the users who are on their feet for long periods of time to remove the footbed when their feet swell, as may be the case of workers in certain professions (e.g., nurses, athletes).

[0012] In the adjustable width system a complete shoe is being offered and the wearer can choose to remove the inserted footbed, leaving the inside of the shoe still finished with a sock lining. In addition, the adjustable width shoe system gives the retailer the possibility to sell fitting shoes in various widths, without the need of carrying a large inventory of widths. A retailer can sell the same size shoe with or without a footbed depending on a customers shoe width.

[0013] In embodiments of this invention, the footwear system may also include one or more of the following features. The removable footbed includes an outer peripheral wall extending substantially upwardly and outwardly, the outer peripheral wall defining a contoured second foot support surface. For example, the outer peripheral wall may be in the form of a beveled wall. The second foot support surface is smaller than the first support surface by substantially one-half shoe size. An upper surface of the sock liner and/or removable footbed is finished.

[0014] The term “finished” means that the shoe may be worn with or without the footbed such that the interior has the same appearance except for the change in width. If there are brand names stamped on the footbed, the same stampings are on the sock liner. Normally, when footbeds are removed the interior is raw. The top of the insole, in some instances stitches or even the tuck material may show. With the adjustable width shoe system, the sock liner may be made of leather or man-made material that add to the neat and finished look.

[0015] In another aspect of the invention, a method for adjusting the width of a shoe of the type includes the following steps. A sock liner is adhesively attached to an insole, and the insole is attached to the upper, the sock liner and upper together defining an interior volume for receiving a wearer's foot. The sock liner has a first foot support surface and a first periphery. A removable footbed is inserted into the interior volume and over the foot support surface of the sock liner. The removable footbed has a second periphery substantially commensurate with the first periphery of the sock liner and a second foot support surface smaller than the first support surface of the sock liner.

[0016] Embodiments of this method may include one or more of the following steps. The removable footbed is formed with a contoured second foot support surface defined by an outer peripheral wall extending substantially upwardly and outwardly. The second foot support surface is smaller than the first support surface by substantially one-half shoe size. The bottom surface of the sock liner is provided with a non-slip surface. The upper surface of the sock liner and/or removable footbed is finished so that a wearer may use the shoe with or without the removable footbed.

[0017] The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0018]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the component parts of a shoe system in accordance with the invention.

[0019]FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view of the shoe taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1 without a removable footbed.

[0020]FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of the shoe taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1 with the removable footbed.

[0021]FIG. 3A is a top view of the removable footbed of the shoe system of FIG. 1.

[0022]FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the removable footbed insert taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 3A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2A-2B, a shoe system 10 is designed to allow a user to adjust the width of the shoe, thereby providing an improved fit and increased comfort to the wearer. As will be described in greater detail below, shoe system 10 includes a removable footbed insert 20 for adjusting the width of the shoe.

[0024] Shoe system 10 includes an upper 12 and an insole 13 lasted to the bottom portion of the upper. As is known in the art, lasting involves tightly shaping the upper over the contour of a last, a piece of wood or synthetic material roughly following the shape of the foot and acting as a form on which the shoe is made. An outsole 14 is attached to the exposed surface of insole 13. In this embodiment, a heel 16 is attached (e.g., with adhesive) to outsole 14.

[0025] Referring to FIG. 2A, a finished sock liner 18, conforming to the shape of insole 13, is adhesively attached to the upper surface of insole 13. Upper 12 and sock liner 18 together define an interior volume for receiving the user's foot. Sock liner may be cut from soft leather (i.e., kid, cape (sheep) or soft cowhide) or from man-made materials (e.g., poly vinyl chloride). Sock liner 18 is fabricated with materials (e.g., soft leather) selected to provide comfort to the wearer during walking. Padding 17 is adhesively attached between insole 13 and sock liner 18 and provides additional cushioned support for the user's heel. Padding 17 has a length extending from the heel region to the arch. And is formed, for example, of polyurethane foam having an uncompressed thickness of about 2 mm to 6 mm. Padding 17 extends laterally to a distance less than the edge of sock liner 18, thereby proving a recessed portion of the heel region of sock liner 18 around its periphery. In other words, padding 17 is slightly smaller than the periphery of sock liner 18 to provide a peripheral edge for adhesively securing the cushioning layer within the cavity using a relatively thin cover layer 19 formed of fiber or leather. In the condition shown in FIG. 2A, shoe system 10 represents a wearable shoe for the user.

[0026] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3A-3B, shoe system 10 further includes a footbed insert 20 sized and shaped to fit securely on top of sock liner 18, so that the footbed insert 20 has a snug fit inside the shoe. Footbed insert 20 can be formed of a composite material (e.g., compressed ethyl vinyl acetate, polyethylene, and micro cellular urethane) and includes a continuous beveled wall 26 that extends from an inner arch portion 29 along a heel portion 27 to an outer arch portion 28. The measured thickness of footbed insert 20 between the inner arch portion 29 and outer portion 28 reduces tapers to a reduced thickness at a front portion 25 of footbed insert 20. The measured thickness of footbed insert 20 between the inner portion 29 and outer portion 28 is approximately {fraction (3/16)}″ depending on the size of the shoe. The tapered thickness is approximately {fraction (1/64)}″. The tapering effect and the beveled wall 26, having the necessary angle and depth, together reduce the shoe width size when placed inside the shoe. In this embodiment, inserting footbed insert 20 reduces the inside measurements by the equivalent of one shoe size width.

[0027] A user can use shoe system 10 in at least two ways. First, a user may desire a smaller shoe width and may insert footbed insert 20 to achieve a decreased width size. For example, a pair of size 8W shoes may be turned into a pair of 8M by the process of removing inserted footbed 20. The same would hold true for the wide widths. Conversely, with footbed insert 20 already inserted, a user may desire a greater width size and would remove footbed insert 20. For example, a pair of size 8M shoes may be turned into a pair of 8 W by the process of removing the inserted footbed 20. The same would hold true for the wide widths.

[0028] Other embodiments are within the following claims. For example, in the above embodiment, beveled wall 26 was formed to reduce the inside measurements by the equivalent of one shoe size width. In other embodiments, however, the beveled wall can be formed to provide a decrease in shoe width that is greater than (2W) or less than (0.5W) one shoe width.

[0029] Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An adjustable width shoe system comprising: an upper having an insole attached thereto; a sock liner attached to the insole, the sock liner and upper together defining an interior volume for receiving a wearer's foot, and having a first foot support surface and a first periphery; and a removable footbed configured to be inserted into said interior volume and over the foot support surface of the sock liner, the removable footbed having a second periphery substantially commensurate with the first periphery of the sock liner and a second foot support surface smaller than the first support surface of the sock liner.
 2. The shoe system of claim 1 wherein the removable footbed includes an outer peripheral wall extending substantially upwardly and outwardly, the outer peripheral wall defining a contoured second foot support surface.
 3. The shoe system of claim 2 wherein the interior cavity of the shoe is smaller by one width.
 4. The shoe system of claim 2 wherein the removable footbed has a first thickness at an arch region of the removable bed and a second thickness at a front end of the removable footbed wherein first thickness is larger than second thickness.
 5. The shoe system of claim 2 wherein the lateral width of the shoe interior volume is reduced.
 6. The shoe system of claim 1 wherein a bottom surface of the sock liner includes a non-slip surface.
 7. The shoe system of claim 1 wherein an upper surface of the sock liner is finished.
 8. The shoe system of claim 1 wherein an upper surface of the removable footbed is finished.
 9. A method for adjusting the width of a shoe of the type including an upper, a sock liner attached to an insole, the insole attached to the upper, the sock liner and upper together defining an interior volume for receiving a wearer's foot, the sock liner having a first foot support surface and a first periphery, the method comprising inserting a removable footbed into the interior volume and over the foot support surface of the sock liner, the removable footbed having a second periphery substantially commensurate with the first periphery of the sock liner and a second foot support surface smaller than the first support surface of the sock liner.
 10. The method of claim 9 further comprising forming the removable footbed with a contoured second foot support surface defined by an outer peripheral wall extending substantially upwardly and outwardly.
 11. The method of claim 10 wherein the interior cavity of the shoe is smaller by one width.
 12. The method of claim 10 wherein the removable footbed has a first thickness at an arch region of the removable bed and a second thickness at a front end of the removable footbed wherein first thickness is larger than second thickness.
 13. The method of claim 10 wherein the lateral width of the shoe interior volume is reduced.
 14. The method of claim 9 further comprising providing a non-slip surface on a bottom surface of the sock liner.
 15. The method of claim 9 further comprising finishing an upper surface of the sock liner.
 16. The method of claim 9 further comprising finishing an upper surface of the removable footbed. 